[Octavian spends only a moment more indulging in his exploring touch; they are in front of his family after all, they mustn't be completely indecent. Though when his hand falls away from Viktor's neck it's only to seek out his hand again to hold, an affectionately loose tangle of fingers, while he simply enjoys being here and looking at him.

He cants his head to one side just slightly, an equally slight furrow in his brow, but the quiet smile— which is increasingly reserved for Viktor, it's starting to feel like— remains. Hmm,]

None of those have ever occurred to me.

[Quite literally, he's never thought about it, but also quite literally, he's never found himself, oh, blindsided by some rush of emotions for someone else quite outside his control. He knows the lines, certainly, Sterling had mooned over a handful of people with all the expected trappings, but, well. Intentional, yes, that's the best term for it; to have the space to consider the shape of a feeling and come to a conclusion.

It's the only way that makes sense to him, all things considered. Sterling would say he's the opposite of a romantic, but surely nothing could be more romantic than actually participating?]

I care for you, [he says, to that end and possibly abruptly, then,] By now this is evident. This I admit. But I wanted to say it directly.